The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-03-03
TIE ANTI IIORM0N BILL

Yesterdays Washington dispatches
state that the friends of the Anti
Mormon bill were much excited over
the report that the president was
likely TO veto the bill. The bill was
passed by more than two-thirds
majority in both houses, but the lessen
of the dependent pension bill in the
house shows that but little depence is
to be placed on democratic congress-
men whose terms expire on the 4th of
March next, and who are more an
xiously beseiging the White House for
official appointments at the hands of
the great vetoer. The foundation for
the report is statement that the presi-
dent considers many features of the
bill unconstitutional and some of
them oppressive.
Although the most important points
of the bill have appeared in THE
NEWS, yet a brief review of the law
which seeks to abate- one-of the most
disgraceful evils that has ever cast a
blot on the fair escutcheon of our land
may now be in order.
The bill, as it passed both houses, re-
quires every marriage in Utah to be
properly authenticated and placed
upon the public records, as III other
states and territories. 1t annuls all
laws recognizing the inheritance rights
of illegitimate children. 1t kills the
power of the church over the probate
courts. 1t breaks UP and dissolves the
perpetual emigration fund company;
which has been used as the recruiting
agency in Europe for fresh supplies Of
victims to be consigned to pOlygamous
Mormons. 1t dissolves the corporation
known as the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints, strips it of its
political power and business privileges,
and places it upon the same basis as
other churches in this country. It dis
franchises the women of Utah and
thus cuts off one of the principal meth
DDS the Mormons have employed to
! strengthen and extend their system,
and to defy the laws already existing
for the suppression of their Iustful
practices. 1t further DISTINGUISHES
every man who will not take oath to
support the constitution and laws of
the United States, especially the anti
| Polygamy statutes. 1t removes from
office all persons appointed by the
Mormon church to positions of a po-
litical character, including school Off
GERS, who hereafter will be appointed
by the governor and supreme court,
except the probate judges, who can be
appointed by the president. The last
section annuls all territorial laws for
or for the creation of the Nau-
VOC Legion, and provides for
the reorganization of the militia by the
territorial assembly, subject to the APP
proval of congress, the general officers
of the militia to be appointed by the
governor of the territory.
From this general resume of the bill
it will be seen that it cuts off all the
props of polygamy, strips the Mormon
church of all its powers except as a
church, takes the government of the
4 territory out of its hands and places it
|
through congress, like the governments
of other territories. In a word, it
takes Utah away from the Mormon
church and restores it to the people, to
whom it belongs under the constitu-
ton and the laws.
Our readers will remember that
President Cleveland in his first mes
sage to congress placed himself on rec
ord as favoring the complete anihilation
of polygamy, and to do otherwise than
approve it now, after having himself
virtually authorized it, would only be
on parallel with his veto of the de-
pendent pension bill, which, in a mod
flied form, he approved previous to his
election to the presidency. by signing
petition in 1884, a copy of which is as
follows:
am sure that the subject of this pc
tition is worthy of the prompt and
careful consideration of congress and
the fullest justice should be done to
the parties in whose interests this
movement is made.
GROVER CLEVELAND.